Garment hanger



Oct. 11, 1938. s a A 2,133,054

GARMENT HANGER FiledMay 3, 1937 INVENTOR.

v BY Hen/ 6. lfafa/k ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 11, 1938 x GARMENT HANGER Henry S. Kofalk, Darien, Conn, assignor to Star- Service Hanger Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application May 3, 1937, Serial No..14'o,4a2

lclaim.

The purpose of this invention is to. provide a garment or coat hanger which embodies the combination of both the wood and wire hangers, and also in which the hook is materially'strengthened.

The invention is a hanger of the type normally referred to as a coat hanger, formed 'of a single strand of wire bent about midway. of its length to form a hook, and withthe ends extending 1 outward, sloping downward and bent inward, ex-

tending into theends of a straight rigid bar of wood or other material. 7

Many devices have been provided for increasing the width of the straight bar of a wire or metal coat hanger, and these have been provided in the form of covers or attachments that are mounted upon the hanger, however, this requires two independent articles, both being manufactured at different points, and supplied independently to the user; and wood coat hangers, which have a straight bar of substantial width, are relatively highin cost, so that their use for the trade is prohibitive; and, therefore, it is desirable to provide an inexpensive garment hanger of the wire or metal type with the straight bar of substantial width similar to that of the wood hanger. It will also be noted that the inexpensive wire hanger is formed with a hook of a single strand of wire, and this is necessary because itwould be impracticable to stop two ends of a wire at the extreme end of the hook, whereas, by forming the hook in the center of the wire strandit is possible to double the strength thereof by. using two strands of wire to form the hook, and this eliminates the necessity of using two hangers as are normally used for heavy garments, such as overcoats and the like, the weight of which bends or straightens out the hook.

The object of the invention is, therefore, to improve the common wire hanger by bending the wire so that it is possible to provide a double strand hook at the center, and also so that it is possible to use a straight bar of wood or other material suspended between the ends of the wire.

Another object is to provide a garment hanger in which the straight bar may be made of considerable thickness without materially increasing the cost of manufacture thereof.

Another object is to provide a garment hanger of the wire type, in which the straight bar will not bend.

Another object is to provide a garment hanger in which the upper portion may be made of wire, and the lower portion wood, and in which the parts are so arrangedthat a hook may be formed of the wire, with two strands of the wire ex- I tending throughout the hook portion.

A further object is to provide a garment hanger in which. the upper portion is formed of the central part of a strand of wire, with the ends adapted to be inserted in openings in a bar to form the straight lower portion.

And a still further object is to provide a coat hanger of the wire type having a stiffened and thickened straight bar forming the lower part thereof, which is of a simple andeconomical construction.

With these ends in view thev invention embodies a combination wire and woodcoat or garment hanger, with the straight bar suspended between the ends of a strand of wire forming the upper portion, and with the hook of the upper portion formed of a double strand.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing an elevation of the hanger.

Figure 2 is a view looking toward the open side of a hook with the lower portion of the hanger broken away.

Figure 3 is a cross section through one end of the straight bar of the hanger.

Figure 4 is a similar section showing an alternate design, in which the bar is made round.

I Figure 5 is a similar section showing another alternate design in which the bar is formed of sheet material.

Figure 6 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 1 showing an alternate design in which loops are provided in the sides of the hanger.

In the drawing the hanger is shown as it may be made, wherein numeral l indicates the hook, numeral 2 the straight bar, and numerals 3 and 4 the side bars.

The hanger is preferably made of a single strand of wire bent about midway of its length, or at the point 5 which forms a point of the hook I, and the two sides of the strand extend around the hook and are twisted at the point 6, with each end extending outward forming the upper sloping side bars 3 and 4, and the ends I and 8 of these bars are bent inward as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1. In this design the bar 2 is formed of a wood strip, shaped as shown in Figure 3, with the ends provided with recesses 9 and Ill into which the ends I and 8 of the wire may be inserted, providing means holding the bar 2 in the side members 3 and 4 of the hanger. It will be understood, however, that the ends of the bar 2 may be attached to or held by the ends of the wire in any manner or by any means. In this design the wire is formed as shown, the bar 2 is also shaped and formed, and in assembling the ends of the wire are inserted in the ends of the bar, thereby facilitating assembling of the parts, and reducing the manufacturing cost to a minimum. The hanger shown in Figure 1 is shown with bends II and I2 in'the'uppe'r parts of the side bars, however, it will be understood that' these bends may be eliminated, and it will also be understood that the side bars may be of the type shown in Figure 6, in which the bars I3 and M are formed with loops l5 and I6, and with the bars formed of spring material these loops are adapted to form spring clips under which the edges of a garment may be inserted to holdthe garment on the sides of the hanger. These loops may be provided at any point or points, and may be of any suitable shape or design, and it will also be understood that the sides of the hanger may be of any design and arranged in any manner. 7

It will also be understood that the straight bar forming the lower side of the hanger may be shaped as shown in Figure 3, or a round bar H, as shown in Figure 4, may be used, and the ends of this bar may be provided with recesses l8.

The ends 1 and 8 of the wire may be inserted; or the 'bar may be made of Celluloid, paper, or any'suitable material, as shown in Figure 5, in which it is indicated by the numeral l9, and this may be suspended on the ends 20 of the bar with the ends bent upward as shown, or formed in any manner. This provides a hollow bar, and it will be understood that it may be of any shape or design. It will also be understood that the ends of the bar may be curved as shown inFigure 1, or straight as shown in Figure 6, and it will also be understood that the bar may be of any shape in cross section or elevation, and of any design.

"It wfll be understood that other changes may be made in the construction without departing from'the spirit of the invention. One of which changes may be in the use of a straight, rigid bar of this type in combination witlfa coat or garment hanger-of any type or design, another may be in the use of this type of bar with a hook of any other type or design, and still another may be in the use of the hook shown in the drawing with a coat hanger having a straight bar of any other type or design.

The construction will be readily understood from the foregoing description. In use coat and garment hangers may be provided as shown and described, and the upper portions may be made of wire or any suitable similar material, with the bar of wood or any other material, and these may be used by placing the trousers on the straight bar, and the coat or other garment upon the sloping bars, and it will be noted that with trousers or other garments held on the straight bar, it will not sag or bend, and, as the bar has substantial width, creases will not be formed across the legs thereof, or marks will not be made across the legs or material; and with the hook formed in this manner it will not be necessary to use two hangers for heavy garments, such as overcoats and the like. Forming the hook'in this'manner also eliminates the objectional free, or raw, end of wire normally positioned at the upper end of the twist, and upon which many garments catch, and dresses in particular are often torn.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I'claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A garment hanger of the type having a hook formed of a double strand of wire, with a rigid,

straight, horizontal bar; comprising a single length of wire bent midway of its length, with the intermediate parts thereof in parallel relation, shaped to form a hook, and twisted to form a vertical member extending downward from said hook, and with theindividual strands bent outward from the lower end of the twist, then horizontal ly for a short distance, and thenlsloped downwardly to points substantially corresponding with the ends of an independent straight member that may be mounted between the open ends of said downwardly sloping members, and

with the ends of both strands bent inwardly form- I to support the said horizontal member; said device characterized in that the said horizontal ends of the individual strands fit snugly in the openings in the ends of the horizontal member, and also in thatthe holes are positioned adjacent the upper end of said horizontal member causing said member to hang with the longer, thinner edge extending downward.

HENRY s. KOFALK. 

